National Trust for Scotland backs down in 'Glencoe' trademark row

The National Trust for Scotland has backed down in a dispute over the name of jacket sold by an Aberdeenshire clothing firm.

The charity has admitted it “got it wrong” when its lawyers wrote to Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing demanding they stop selling their Glencoe jacket.

NTS owns Glencoe and holds the trademark for its name.

However, NTS said there would be no restriction on Hilltreck using the name for its product.

‘Bullying’ NTS in Glencoe trademark row

The trust’s director of customer and cause, Mark Bishop, said they did not want the trademark to affect established businesses with local products.

“On this occasion, we got it wrong,” he said.

“If we had done our homework on Hilltrek before our lawyers contacted them, it would have been clear that this was a Scottish company which has been manufacturing this product with this name for a number of years.

“Our first response would then have been to come to a mutual agreement over the issue, which is what we have now achieved.

“I am pleased to say that there will be no restriction on Hilltrek continuing to use Glencoe as before as the name of this product line.

“There is much we have in common as we both appeal to people who love Scotland’s magnificent wild lands and this is something we want to focus on together.”